Marijuana Possession in Denton County - What you should know

By
Tim Powers
|June 18, 2012

Tim Powers

Law Office of Tim Powers

940.580.2899

www.timpowers.com

Denton County marijuana possession is at least a misdemeanor criminal charge
under Texas law. Though most minor marijuana possession cases can be dealt
with effectively, more serious charges with larger quantities or intent
to sell are extremely serious charges.

And any time you are at risk of jail time, or even just a
6 month driver's license loss, it makes sense to consult with an attorney to explore all your legal
defense options.

The legal definition of marijuana possession is defined by Texas Health
and Safety Code. Marijuana is in its own category in the possession law
and, for the purposes of
marijuana possession, marijuana is defined as a usable quantity of any
Cannabis sativa plant, whether it is growing or not, the seeds of the plant and any preparation
of the plant such as a joint or a package containing dried and shredded buds.

Texas Marijuana Possession – Laws & Penalties

Marijuana Possession Laws

Weight

Classification

Penalty

2 ounces or less

Class B misdemeanor

Not more than 180 days in a county jail and/or a fine of not more than $2,000

More than 2 ounces, but less than 4 ounces

Class A misdemeanor

Not more than 1 year in a county jail and/or a fine of not more than $4,000

More than 4 ounces, but less than 5 pounds

State jail felony

180 days to 2 years in a state jail and/or a fine of not more than $10,000

More than 5 pounds, but less than 50 pounds

Third-degree felony

2 to 10 years in a state prison and/or a fine of not more than $10,000

More than 50 pounds, but less than 2,000

Second-degree felony

2 to 20 years in a state prison and/or a fine of not more than $10,000

More than 2,000 pounds

Enhanced first-degree felony

5 to 99 years and a fine of not more than $50,000

You can also be sentenced to a suspended driver's license for
up to six months following a conviction on any violation of the Texas Controlled Substances
Act, including marijuana.

What Is the Most Likely Outcome for a Simple Marijuana Possession Charge in Texas?

If you are accused of a first offense of possessing less than 2 ounces
of marijuana, it is likely you can work out a deal or even get your case
dismissed in exchange for agreeing to drug treatment programs, or some
community service. If you don't get in any additional trouble in a
set amount of time, the case may be dismissed or continued indefinitely.

These programs are called diversion programs, and are meant to avoid harsh
penalties for first offenders. Some Texas counties also have
drug courts, where the court intervenes with intensive monitoring of drug use and
other mandatory programs in exchange for dismissing the possession charge
in the future.

If you feel you may have a marijuana addition problem, agreeing to drug
treatment can be an excellent option as part of a plea agreement.

The goal in these cases is to
avoid a permanent criminal record. We can discuss exactly what your options are, and what kind of deal we
think we can get for you after hearing about your case and reviewing the
evidence against you as part of our
free consultation.

Being called into criminal court on a drug charge can be a frightening
and intimidating experience. But knowing you have an experienced defense
attorney on your side, fighting for you, can make all the difference.

Please contact us today to find out what we can do for you.

If you are seeking aggressive criminal representation by an experienced
criminal defense attorney for your Denton County drug possession case
or arrest in Denton County, contact the offices of Tim Powers today. There
is no charge or obligation for the initial consultation. 940.580.2899.

*Tim Powers is an attorney licensed to practice law by the Supreme Court
of Texas. Nothing in this article is intended to be legal advice. For
legal advice about any specific legal question you should directly consult
an attorney.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
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